Opening night at the Gilded Door was more successful than Jessie ever thought possible. The doors to the bar stood wide open and the sounds of music and laughter poured out of the bar onto River Street. Bo could see the excitement bursting from Jessica's face as she greeted people coming in the door. The bar had been slammed all night long with requests for Melonballs, Shirley Temples, Fuzzy Navels, and Long Island Iced Teas, not to mention all the pitchers of draft beer Bo had served. The Gilded Door had more beers on tap than any other bar in town, just like Jessica wanted it.
Bo was in the process of pouring one woman her third shot of tequila when Jessie popped up behind the bar.
"Can you believe this?!" Jessie whispered breathlessly. "There's so many people in here that some people are taking their drinks outside to stand on the sidewalk. They've even started to dance out there!"
"I was never worried for a second, Jess. I told you it was going to be this way."
"Yeah, but I never believed you," Jessica said matter-of-factly. Bo stealthily smiled at her as she stared in disbelief from behind the bar at the mob of expectant faces that had gathered as they had talked for only a few seconds. "Well, I better get back to my post! These people look thirsty!" Jessica was no longer trying to hide her childish exuberance. She shot out from behind the bar and began to mingle with the groups gathered around the tables just in front of the bar.
There's that girl that owns that nature outfitters store. I buy my boots there all the time . . . I wonder if she knows I'm the one that opened this place?
"Hi!! I'm Jessica! I buy my boots at your store all the time! . . . When did I get here? Oh, well I've been here since we opened. You knew I owned this place, right? ... Oh, it's nothing. I just needed something to do in my spare time."
Oh it feels good!! It's not a crime to let people know about your success, right?! Oh, God. There's Hayden and Zeke . . . I've had that van in my shop forever. I just haven't had time with opening night coming up. I'm sure I'll have much more time now that things here are on their feet and . . . Doing So Well!! Okay, breath and smile without looking like you expect Santa to come popping up from under the dance floor any minute.
"Hi, Hayden! Hello, Zeke. It's great of you all to come out tonight . . . Oh, your van? I've got that thing almost licked! You should be able to get it, oh, the first of the week. Just give me a call. You guys enjoy yourself!"
Yeah, first of next week . . . if a huge rebuilt transmission pops out my ass sometime this weekend. Don't let it bring you down Jessie. If that moron of a mechanic that I hired hadn't told Mrs. Shoemaker to "fix your car your own damn self!" I wouldn't have had to fire him. I mean, I've wanted to say that to her myself many times but I just can't afford to make one person mad around here or else my garage will be out of business in less than a month . . . especially if it's Mrs. Shoemaker. BUT . . . this is my night and my dreams coming true. Screw Mrs. Shoemaker and all the rest of them! I'll worry about that tomorrow . . . or maybe the next day!

Visit the English Muse

Follow Jessica

Credits
Personal Photograph of "Riverstreet Bar" provided by Helen Cornelius, May 1997
Photograph Edited in Adobe Photoshop 5.5 by Susan Scriven, Dec 1999